, 1887-06-02
FROM PORTLAND.
A Cosby Letter From the Oregon
Metropolis.

A Cosby Letter FROM the oregon
Metropolis.
1t has been over year since i visit
ed Portland last. There is no percep-
tible change in the outward appear
ance of the ciey, although old residents
affirm that business is better and
money much more plentiful. Perhaps
the absence of several theatrical
companies and vacation in dramatic
entertainments, owing to the season,
robs the city of thA outward appear
ance of life and activity which during
the winter months makes Portland so
attractive to the stranger. Rents are
very high, not only for business houses
but also residences. Higher even
than in Spokane Falls. Considerable
building is going on, and several mag
nificent business blocks are now under
construction.
The attention OF the people here is
gradually but surely being diverted
from their cent per cent speculations
into the channel of mining. The
wealth of the South Fork
country has wooed the love
of Portland's capital, and while
some of the bolder spectators
are already in the field, many others
stand shivering on the brink waiting
for a general excitement to push them
into the vortex of regular old-time
Pine street stock gamble. This is
certain to occur within a year. The
benefits to be derived from this min
ing industry to the city of Portland
are almost incalculable. What n
number Of stupendous enterprises will
this inaugurate?
With usual regularity l visited
several of the churches on this day of
rest-Sunday. With reportorial inter
est my greatest curiosity was excited
by the doings of the Salvation Army.
OF course there are always two sides
to a subject, and while one may do
violence to fellow mortals feelings
in writing from given stand
point, i have concluded to give
the general impressions Made
to the casual sight-seer in
viewing and listening to the perform
ance of this strange lot of men and
women. 1t Was beautiful Sabbath
morning on the streets of Portland as
the sound Of martial music and the
sight of banners announced the ap-
proach of the army. Wheeling with Il
circle just off First street on Alder the
performance began. One Maj. Field
was in command. The musical
strength of the army was short
dozen-fve women and as many men.
Some were armed with musical in
struments. There were bass drum,
two cornets and couple of tambou.
rines. The uniform OF the men was q
blue military short coat and black
helmet hat decorated with band
bearing the words Salvation
Army" Under the outer coat
corsage OF red, lettered
as is the cap. The women wear plain
woolen dress, also lettered across the
breast Salvation Army" The plain
black straw hat is a shocking looking
thing from milliners point of view.
Before the music had ceased quite a
crowd of Sunday idlers had gathered
If any sympathy existed in the mind
of any one with the performance it
did not manifest itself. On the other
hand the performers were the butt of
many jibe and small boy hoot. The
major" opened the battle by well
sung piece of music, not of the old
Methodistic style or note, but in II
sort OF of plantation breakdown, en-
thusiastic and jubilating vein. All
the soldiers wore smiles, seraphic
smiles, evidently, to carry out the
idea that they were glad, like
Jonah in the storm, that they were on
the inside. After the major had fin
ished one Of the women, an intelli-
gent, comely looking girl, about twen-
ty, stepped into the center OF the cir
Gle and addressed the audience in n
strong voice and with animated ges-
ture, telling them how happy she was
in being christian and how she
loved her God. After exhorting for
two or three minutes she closed her
speech, and the army took up hal
lelujah chorus with kdrum and song.
Then one of the men followed in the
same strain and SO the order lof exer-
cises continued for half an hour. At
the close of the performance, and an
Intellectual attempt on the part of one
Of the females TO sell copies of "The
War Cry" the march to the barracks
was begun.
Among quite number Of promi-
nent people who attended the drill
WAS the tall sycamore Of the real
estate business Vt our city. When his
Portland friend, August G. suggested